The Prime Minister of Ivory Coast, Amadou Gon Coulibaly of Ivory Coast has died. He was aged 61.
The spokesman of the Ivorian presidency, Patrick Achi revealed in a statement on Wednesday that Coulibaly became unwell during a weekly cabinet meeting and was evacuated to a hospital where he passed away.
Reuters reported that the Ivorian President, Alassane Ouattara handpicked Coulibaly to succeed him when his term runs out later in 2020.
The deceased who was nominated candidate of the ruling Rally of Houphouetists for Democracy and Peace Party (RHDPP) in March, had returned to the country on July 2 after a prolonged stay in France. Coulibaly had heart surgery in 2012.
“I am back to take my place by the side of the president, to continue the task of developing and building our country.” He said on returning to the country.
Coulibaly served as agriculture minister from 2002 to 2010 and as secretary general of the presidency from 2011 until his 2017 appointment as prime minister. He was a trusted ally of the president.
The president in a broadcast said: “I pay tribute to my little brother, my son, who for more than 30 years has been my closest ally.”
Ivorians will go to the polls around November this year to pick a successor to 78 year old Alassane Ouattara who has ruled Ivory Coast since 2010.
